Portable turntable for ovens

Claim 2

A portable turntable for use in the cooking cavity of a microwave oven, comprising a generally planar base which rests on the floor of the oven cavity, a generally planar platform including a ring of gear teeth rotatively mounted on the base in close proximity to the floor of the oven cavity with no drive mechanism beneath either the platform or the base, and a drive motor assembly mounted on the upper side of the base to one side of the platform for rotatively driving the platform, said drive motor assembly including an enclosure which is reflective to microwave energy, an output shaft extending through a microwave attenuating passageway in one wall of the enclosure and a drive gear mounted on the shaft outside the enclosure in driving engagement with the gear teeth on the platform, said drive motor assembly being of substantially smaller lateral extent than the platform and being positioned in one corner of the oven cavity.

Claim 3

The turntable of claim 1 wherein the base and platform are fabricated of a material having a low loss tangent at microwave frequencies.

Claim 4

The turntable of claim 1 wherein the base and platform are fabricated of a material capable of withstanding temperatures on the order of 500° F. so that the turntable can be used in a conventional oven as well as in a microwave oven.

Claim 5

The turntable of claim 1 further including a layer of electrically insulative material outside the enclosure for reducing arcing between the enclosure and other structure in the oven.

Claim 6

The turntable of claim 1 wherein the drive motor assembly includes an on/off switch having an operating shaft passing through a microwave attenuating passageway in the enclosure.

Claim 7

The turntable of claim 1 wherein the drive motor assembly includes an electrically energized drive motor.

Claim 8

The turntable of claim 1 wherein the drive motor assembly includes a spring-operated motor.

Claim 9

A portable turntable for use in the cooking cavity of a microwave oven, comprising a generally planar base which rests on the floor of the oven cavity, a horizontally extending platform rotatively mounted on the base in close proximity to the floor of the oven cavity with no drive mechanism beneath either the platform or the base, said base and said platform each being fabricated of a material having a low loss tangent at microwave frequencies, and a drive motor assembly mounted on the upper side of the base to one side of the platform for rotatively driving the platform, said drive motor assembly being positioned in a corner of the oven cavity and including a drive motor and a housing of microwave reflective material enclosing the drive motor and forming a microwave-tight enclosure of substantially smaller lateral extent than the platform, said platform and said drive motor assembly being mounted on the base in an interlocking relationship and being readily lifted therefrom.

Claim 10

A portable turntable for use in the cooking cavity of a microwave oven, comprising a generally planar base which rests on the floor of the oven cavity, a horizontally extending platform rotatively mounted on the base in close proximity to the floor of the oven cavity with no drive mechanism beneath either the platform or the base, said base and said platform each being fabricated of a material having a low loss tangent at microwave frequencies, and a drive motor assembly mounted on the upper side of the base to one side of the platform for rotatively driving the platform, said drive motor assembly being positioned in a corner of the oven cavity and including a drive motor and a housing of microwave reflective material enclosing the drive motor and forming a microwave-tight enclosure of substantially smaller lateral extent than the platform, said platform and said drive motor assembly being mounted on the base in an interlocking relationship and being readily lifted therefrom.

Claim 11

The turntable of claim 8 further including a layer of insulative material covering the outside of the enclosure for reducing arcing between the enclosure and other structure in the oven.

Claim 12

The turntable of claim 8 wherein the base and platform are fabricated of a material capable of withstanding temperatures on the order of 500° F. so that the turntable can be used in a conventional oven as well as in a microwave oven.

Claim 13

The turntable of claim 8 wherein the drive motor assembly includes an on/off switch having an operating shaft passing through a microwave attenuating passageway in the enclosure.

Claim 14

The turntable of claim 8 wherein the platform is mounted on the base by means of a central axle and a plurality of bearings spaced peripherally of the platform and the base.

Claim 15

The turntable of claim 8 wherein the drive motor is an electrically energized motor.

Claim 16

The turntable of claim 13 further including a battery within the housing for energizing the drive motor.

Claim 17

The turntable of claim 8 wherein the drive motor assembly includes an spring-operated motor.

Claim 18

A portable turntable for use in the cooking cavity of a microwave oven, comprising a base which rests on the floor of the oven cavity, a platform having a ring of gear teeth rotatively mounted on the base in close proximity to the floor of the oven cavity with no drive mechanism beneath either the platform or the base, said base and said platform each being fabricated of a material having a low loss tangent at a microwave frequencies, a drive motor assembly mounted on the upper side of the base to one side of the turntable and positioned in a corner of the oven cavity, said drive motor assembly including a drive motor and a drive gear driven by the motor in driving engagement with the gear teeth on the platform, said platform and said drive motor assembly resting on the base in an interlocking relationship and being readily lifted therefrom.

Claim 19

A portable turntable for use in the cooking cavity of a microwave oven, comprising a base which rests on the floor of the oven cavity, a platform having a ring of gear teeth rotatively mounted on the base in close proximity to the floor of the oven cavity with no drive mechanism beneath either the platform or the base, said base and said platform each being fabricated of a material having a low loss tangent at a microwave frequencies, a drive motor assembly mounted on the upper side of the base to one side of the turntable and positioned in a corner of the oven cavity, said drive motor assembly including a drive motor and a drive gear driven by the motor in driving engagement with the gear teeth on the platform, said platform and said drive motor assembly resting on the base in an interlocking relationship and being readily lifted therefrom.

Claim 20

The turntable of claim 16 wherein the drive motor is mounted in an enclosure which is reflective to microwave energy and of substantially smaller lateral extent than the platform.

Claim 21

The turntable of claim 17 further including a layer of insulative material covering the outside of the enclosure for reducing arcing between the enclosure and other structure in the oven.

Claim 22

The turntable of claim 16 wherein the base and platform are fabricated of a material capable of withstanding temperatures on the order of 500° F. so that the turntable can be used in conventional oven as well as in a microwave oven.

Claim 23

The turntable of claim 16 including an on/off switch connected to the drive motor for actuating the same.

Claim 24

The turntable of claim 16 wherein the platform is mounted on the base by means of a central axle and a plurality of bearings spaced peripherally about the platform between the platform and base.

Claim 25

The turntable of claim 16 wherein the drive motor comprises an electrically energized motor.

Claim 26

The turntable of claim 16 wherein the drive motor comprises a spring-operated motor.

Claim 27

A portable turntable for use in the cooking cavity of a microwave oven, comprising a generally planar base which rests on the floor of the oven cavity, a horizontally extending platform having a ring of gear teeth rotatively mounted on the base in close proximity to the floor of the oven cavity with no drive mechanism below either the platform or the base, said base and said platform each being fabricated of a material having a low loss tangent at microwave frequencies, a shielding enclosure reflective to microwave energy mounted on the upper side of the base to one side of the platform, said enclosure being of substantially smaller lateral extent than the platform and being positioned in one corner of the oven cavity, a drive motor mounted in the enclosure, an output shaft driven by the motor extending through a microwave attenuating passageway in one wall of the enclosure, and a drive gear mounted on the shaft outside the enclosure in driving engagement with the gear teeth on the platform.

Claim 28

A portable turntable for use in the cooking cavity of a microwave oven, comprising a generally planar base which rests on the floor of the oven cavity, a horizontally extending platform having a ring of gear teeth rotatively mounted on the base in close proximity to the floor of the oven cavity with no drive mechanism below either the platform or the base, said base and said platform each being fabricated of a material having a low loss tangent at microwave frequencies, a shielding enclosure reflective to microwave energy mounted on the upper side of the base to one side of the platform, said enclosure being of substantially smaller lateral extent than the platform and being positioned in one corner of the oven cavity, a drive motor mounted in the enclosure, an output shaft driven by the motor extending through a microwave attenuating passageway in one wall of the enclosure, and a drive gear mounted on the shaft outside the enclosure in driving engagement with the gear teeth on the platform.

Claim 29

A portable turntable for use in the cooking cavity of a microwave oven, comprising a generally planar base which rests on the floor of the oven cavity, a horizontally extending platform having a ring of gear teeth rotatively mounted on the base in close proximity to the floor of the oven cavity with no drive mechanism below either the platform or the base, said base and said platform each being fabricated of a material having a low loss tangent at microwave frequencies, a drive motor housing mounted on the base to one side of the platform and being fabricated of a material which is reflective to microwave energy, said housing being of substantially smaller lateral extent than the platform and being positioned in one corner of the oven cavity, an electrically energized drive motor enclosed within the housing, an output shaft extending through a microwave attenuating passageway in one wall of the housing, and an output gear mounted on the shaft outside the housing in driving engagement with the gear teeth on the platform for rotation of said platform.

Claim 30

A portable turntable for use in the cooking cavity of a microwave oven, comprising a generally planar base which rests on the floor of the oven cavity, a horizontally extending platform having a ring of gear teeth rotatively mounted on the base in close proximity to the floor of the oven cavity with no drive mechanism below either the platform or the base, said base and said platform each being fabricated of a material having a low loss tangent at microwave frequencies, a drive motor housing mounted on the base to one side of the platform and being fabricated of a material which is reflective to microwave energy, said housing being of substantially smaller lateral extent than the platform and being positioned in one corner of the oven cavity, an electrically energized drive motor enclosed within the housing, an output shaft extending through a microwave attenuating passageway in one wall of the housing, and an output gear mounted on the shaft outside the housing in driving engagement with the gear teeth on the platform for rotation of said platform.

Claim 31

The turntable of claim 25 further including a battery mounted in the drive motor housing for energizing the motor.

Claim 32

The turntable of claim 25 wherein the platform and motor housing are removably mounted on the base.

Claim 33

A portable turntable for use in the cavity of a microwave oven, comprising a generally planar base which rests on the floor of the oven cavity, a rotatable platform removably mounted on the base in close proximity to the floor of the oven cavity with no drive mechanism beneath either the platform or the base, and a drive motor assembly removably mounted on the base to one side of the platform for rotatively driving the platform, said drive motor assembly being of substantially smaller lateral extent than the platform and being positioned in one corner of the oven cavity, said platform and said drive motor assembly being mounted on the base in an interlocking relationship such that the motor assembly is retained on the base by the platform and can be lifted off the base when the platform is removed.

Claim 34

A portable turntable for use in the cavity of a microwave oven, comprising a generally planar base which rests on the floor of the oven cavity, a rotatable platform removably mounted on the base in close proximity to the floor of the oven cavity with no drive mechanism beneath either the platform or the base, and a drive motor assembly removably mounted on the base to one side of the platform for rotatively driving the platform, said drive motor assembly being of substantially smaller lateral extent than the platform and being positioned in one corner of the oven cavity, said platform and said drive motor assembly being mounted on the base in an interlocking relationship such that the motor assembly is retained on the base by the platform and can be lifted off the base when the platform is removed.

Claim 35

A portable turntable for use in the cooking cavity of a microwave oven, comprising a generally planar base which rests on the floor of the oven cavity and is freely removable therefrom, a generally planar platform having a ring of gear teeth rotatively mounted on the base with no drive mechanism beneath either the platform or the base, and drive means mounted on the base to one side of the platform and positioned in one corner of the oven cavity, said drive means including a drive motor, a housing of a microwave reflective material enclosing the drive motor and forming a microwave-tight enclosure of substantially smaller lateral extent than the platform, a microwave attenuating passageway in one wall of the housing, an output shaft extending through the passageway for rotatively driving the platform, an output gear mounted on the shaft outside the housing in driving engagement with the gear teeth on the platform, said base, said platform and said drive means forming a self-contained structure which can be inserted into and removed from the oven cavity as a unit.

Claim 36

A portable turntable for use in the cooking cavity of a microwave oven, comprising a generally planar base which rests on the floor of the oven cavity and is freely removable therefrom, a generally planar platform having a ring of gear teeth rotatively mounted on the base with no drive mechanism beneath either the platform or the base, and drive means mounted on the base to one side of the platform and positioned in one corner of the oven cavity, said drive means including a drive motor, a housing of a microwave reflective material enclosing the drive motor and forming a microwave-tight enclosure of substantially smaller lateral extent than the platform, a microwave attenuating passageway in one wall of the housing, an output shaft extending through the passageway for rotatively driving the platform, an output gear mounted on the shaft outside the housing in driving engagement with the gear teeth on the platform, said base, said platform and said drive means forming a self-contained structure which can be inserted into and removed from the oven cavity as a unit.

Claim 37

The turntable of claim 29 wherein the drive motor is electrically energized.

Claim 38

A portable turntable for use in the cooking cavity of a microwave oven, comprising a generally planar base which rests on the floor of the oven cavity, a generally planar platform rotatively mounted on the base in close proximity to the floor of the oven cavity with no drive mechanism beneath either the platform or the base, and a drive motor assembly mounted on the upper side of the base to one side of the platform for rotatively driving the platform, said drive motor assembly being of substantially smaller lateral extent than the platform and being positioned in one corner of the oven cavity, said platform and said drive motor assembly resting on the base in an interlocking relationship and being readily lifted therefrom.

Claim 39

A portable turntable for use in the cooking cavity of a microwave oven, comprising a generally planar base which rests on the floor of the oven cavity, a generally planar platform rotatively mounted on the base in close proximity to the floor of the oven cavity with no drive mechanism beneath either the platform or the base, and a drive motor assembly mounted on the upper side of the base to one side of the platform for rotatively driving the platform, said drive motor assembly being of substantially smaller lateral extent than the platform and being positioned in one corner of the oven cavity, said platform and said drive motor assembly resting on the base in an interlocking relationship and being readily lifted therefrom.

Claim 40

A portable turntable for use in the cavity of a microwave oven, comprising a generally planar base having a vertically extending bore and resting on the floor of the oven cavity, a rotatable platform removably mounted on the base with a depending central axle received in the vertically extending bore, said platform having a peripheral ring of gear teeth, and a drive motor assembly removably mounted on the base to one side of the platform for rotatively driving the platform, said drive motor assembly including a housing reflective to microwave energy, a flange projecting from the housing and captured beneath a mating flange on the base, a drive motor within the housing, a shaft coupled to the motor and extending through a microwave attenuating passageway in one wall of the housing, and an output gear mounted on the shaft outside the housing, said output gear being in driving engagement with the gear teeth of the platform and restrained from upward movement by the platform, said drive motor assembly being of substantially smaller lateral extent than the platform and being positioned in one corner of the oven cavity.

Claim 41

A portable turntable for use in the cavity of a microwave oven, comprising a generally planar base having a vertically extending bore and resting on the floor of the oven cavity, a rotatable platform removably mounted on the base with a depending central axle received in the vertically extending bore, said platform having a peripheral ring of gear teeth, and a drive motor assembly removably mounted on the base to one side of the platform for rotatively driving the platform, said drive motor assembly including a housing reflective to microwave energy, a flange projecting from the housing and captured beneath a mating flange on the base, a drive motor within the housing, a shaft coupled to the motor and extending through a microwave attenuating passageway in one wall of the housing, and an output gear mounted on the shaft outside the housing, said output gear being in driving engagement with the gear teeth of the platform and restrained from upward movement by the platform, said drive motor assembly being of substantially smaller lateral extent than the platform and being positioned in one corner of the oven cavity.

Claim 42

A portable turntable for use in the cooking cavity of a microwave oven, comprising a generally planar base which rests on the floor of the oven cavity and is freely removable therefrom, a generally planar platform rotatively mounted on the base with no drive mechanism beneath either the platform or the base, and drive means mounted on the base to one side of the platform and positioned in one corner of the oven cavity, said drive means including a drive motor, a housing of microwave reflective material enclosing the drive motor and forming a microwave-tight enclosure of substantially smaller lateral extent than the platform, a microwave attenuating passageway in one wall of the housing, an output shaft extending through the passageway for rotatively driving the platform, said base, said platform and said drive means forming a self-contained structure which can be inserted into and removed from the oven cavity as a unit, said platform and said drive means being removable mounted on the base in an interlocking relationship such that the drive means is retained on the base by the platform and can be lifted from the base when the platform is removed.

Claim 43

A portable turntable for use in the cooking cavity of a microwave oven, comprising a generally planar base which rests on the floor of the oven cavity and is freely removable therefrom, a generally planar platform rotatively mounted on the base with no drive mechanism beneath either the platform or the base, and drive means mounted on the base to one side of the platform and positioned in one corner of the oven cavity, said drive means including a drive motor, a housing of microwave reflective material enclosing the drive motor and forming a microwave-tight enclosure of substantially smaller lateral extent than the platform, a microwave attenuating passageway in one wall of the housing, an output shaft extending through the passageway for rotatively driving the platform, said base, said platform and said drive means forming a self-contained structure which can be inserted into and removed from the oven cavity as a unit, said platform and said drive means being removable mounted on the base in an interlocking relationship such that the drive means is retained on the base by the platform and can be lifted from the base when the platform is removed.